Five companies answered Enemalta’s Request for Information (RFI) on a submarine electrical interconnection between Malta and Sicily, which closed on 26 June 2007.

The companies are Siemens/Prysmian Cables & Systems (ex-Pirelli Cables), Areva, Med Energy Consortium, RTE EDF Transport SA, Sorgenia Spa and Electrabel.

It is estimated that the project will have a capital expenditure of Lm55million/ EUR127 million for a 200 Megawatt (MW) system.

The project could take up to three years to complete under normal conditions and the link should have a lifespan of around 30 years.

At present, the RFI documents are being analysed by Enemalta’s technical team after which the qualifying companies will proceed to the next phase and submit a Request For Proposals (RFP). Once these are submitted, the negotiations will start individually.

There are two alternatives systems that can be adopted: alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC)– in which case DC/AC converters will be required.